pocket wizards or Radio Poppers?

Dang, I thought you were going to put up a fight... glad we can all get along. RPs look like great products and I spent some decent time scouring reviews and video demos and ultimately settled on the PWs. I'm sure there are many happy users of both!

agv8or wrote in post #10669488
Ok now lets mention the fact that with the Radio Poppers you have to have a Master flash mounted to the camera to use the PX transmitter where as the PW Mini does not require a flash.

You do require a flash on the TT1 if you want to maintain ratio control shooting ETTL with multiple flashes. But if you don't need ratio control, then no, you do not need a flash on TT1 on camera.

starcentral wrote in post #10669876
You do require a flash on the TT1 if you want to maintain ratio control shooting ETTL with multiple flashes.

True but when the AC3 comes out you will get an "approximation" of ratio control with ETTL by being able to dial down a fill light (as one example). Right?

imahawki wrote in post #10669846
Again, you either have a Canon or you don't. If you have a Canon (and this is a Canon forum) you don't really care that the product doesn't work for Nikon. Some of your benefits might be a benefit OF the brand but they may not mean anything to an INDIVIDUAL. This seems like a PC/Mac kind of debate. The products are generally similar and each one has both pluses AND minuses. To pretend one is clearly superior seems silly.

There are a lot of Nikonians here in this forum and even some who use both systems. It is not exclusive to Canon users.

imahawki wrote in post #10669877
Dang, I thought you were going to put up a fight... glad we can all get along. RPs look like great products and I spent some decent time scouring reviews and video demos and ultimately settled on the PWs. I'm sure there are many happy users of both!

No fight here just the facts.

jemurphy99 wrote in post #10669698
Thanks for the report agv8or. Does RadioPopper make a module that allows wireless use of a Sekonic L-358? That's what originally put me in the pocket wizard camp. Nobody falling over wires in my studio area. While relfective metering is ok I kind of like incident metering better.

Radio Popper does not build a module for the Sekonic meters but how does your Sekonic meter work with the Mini and Flex's when using ETTL?

The mini and flex do not have to be used in full TTL so the sekonic module would still be effective. I have my mini and flex units setup for one channel to be TTL and the other is manual. That gives me new and old school options. With the new AC3, that's even easier as you just flip a switch on it and dial in the power you want for each flash righ there on the ac3.

I am checking stores every day to find the AC3. I can't wait for it to hit the online US stores.

agv8or wrote in post #10669959
Radio Popper does not build a module for the Sekonic meters but how does your Sekonic meter work with the Mini and Flex's when using ETTL?

I use Pocket Wizard Plus II's on my studio strobes. I use my mini TT1 to fire them (backwards compatible) and I use my PW equipped Sekonic L-358 to fire them when setting up my shots.

jemurphy99 wrote in post #10670640
I use Pocket Wizard Plus II's on my studio strobes. I use my mini TT1 to fire them (backwards compatible) and I use my PW equipped Sekonic L-358 to fire them when setting up my shots.

You're not using the flex with Speedlites or are you mixing your speedlites with studio strobes?

I have PW modules in my 3 Sekonic meters and I do miss using them when I use my Radio Poppers but I invested in the Radio Poppers to mainly use my Speedlites alone or intermixed with PCB strobes. When I am using only my Bowens and Calumet power paks I still use my PW Plus II's and meter them with my Sekonics but when using my Radio Poppers I usually just wing it whether in manual or ETTL. Having complete control of all flash outputs from the camera makes adjustments fast and easy using just the cameras display and a hoodman loupe.

Yeah. I haven't been mixing speedlites and strobes too much. Sometimes I use a 580EX II on my Mini TT1 with (dare I say it... a lightsphere) in conjuction with my studio strobes for just a tiny kiss of light from the camera position. Usually I have it dialed down to pretty low power. My wife really likes the way the skintones just pop with the lightsphere and I tend to agree on that. But that's just me....

I am trying to break into greater use of just speedlites, especially outdoors, on location in bright sun as fill.

jemurphy99 wrote in post #10670945
Yeah. I haven't been mixing speedlites and strobes too much. Sometimes I use a 580EX II on my Mini TT1 with (dare I say it... a lightsphere) in conjuction with my studio strobes for just a tiny kiss of light from the camera position. Usually I have it dialed down to pretty low power. My wife really likes the way the skintones just pop with the lightsphere and I tend to agree on that. But that's just me....

I am trying to break into greater use of just speedlites, especially outdoors, on location in bright sun as fill.

It takes a brave man to admit that in these forums...lol They are not the catch all light modifiers that everyone wants them to be but the manner in which you are using it is perfectly acceptable and you have nothing to be ashamed of.

Three great reference books for using shoe flashes are 1. "On Camera Flash Techniques" by Neil Van Niekerk 2. "Minimalist Lighting" by Kirk Tuck and 3. "Off-Camera Flash" by Rod Deutschmann

Thanks. I will have to watch for those titles. Off to Kansas City for the day. Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun!

With Radio Poppers don't you need to run fiber optic cables and beads around your gear?

starcentral wrote in post #10672480
With Radio Poppers don't you need to run fiber optic cables and beads around your gear?

No You are thinking of the P1's which are no longer in production replaced by the new PX's, which have been out for 1 1/2 years now. The PX Receivers have a window that lines up with the wireless sensor on the flash. There is a very nifty bracket that allows all EX Speedlites to mate to the PX Receiver without the need for Velcro or rubber bands. The PX Transmitter still is held in place, atop the Master flash, with velcro or rubber bands but that is really no problem and I have never had any issues with that arrangement.

rodddy wrote in post #10600146
I just got them Friday! Here are some shots from this morning, just messing around with the kids. So far my impression is, these things are awsome! Just set you flash however, where ever you want and as long as your subject is within range, perfect exposure almost everytime. Notice the sky on the images of my daughter, virtually no pp on the sky, great exposure on her and the bright sky!

1

.

2.

3.these images have very little P.P, really no pp done to sky.

4.

_______________

opps old thread but here's my q

love these images, was it bare flash or with some type of modifier?